Self-operating filling station



L. P. STARKEY SELF OPERATING FILLING STATION Filed July 1927 June 18,1929.

.HHI 1 I I 1M I I IU h Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEWIS P. STARKEY, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.

SELF-OPERATING FILLING STATION.

Application filed. IuIy 5,

This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly tomachines for dispensing gasolene in measured quantities, as shown anddescribed in my Letters Patent No. 1,650,882, issued Nov. 29, 1927, ofwhich the present application is a continuation as to all matter commonto both.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a machine of the abovedescribed character, a simple, reliable and eflicient mechanism toprevent the operation of the machine by an inserted coin, in case themerchandise (represented in the illustrated embodiment of the inventionby gasolene) is exhausted or diminished to such a degree that an amountequivalent in value to the inserted coin, cannot be obtained.

Other objects of theinvention are to be found in details of constructionand novel arrangements and combinations of parts as will fully appear inthe course of the followin g description.

In the accompanying drawings in the several views of which like partsare similarly designated.

Figure 1 represents a partially-sectional side elevation of acoin-controlled vending machine in which the improvements according tothe present invention are embodied,

Figure 2, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the circuit breakingappliance associated with the supply tank of the machine as illustratedin Figure 1., together with a diagrammatic representation of thecircuit,

Figure 3, a face View 01 a portion of the machine, showing the coin slotand the means for preventing the insertion of coins or checks inaccordance with the present invention,

Figure 4, a section taken on the line 1-4, Figure 3, and

Figure 5, a section similar to Figure 4., showing the coin excludingmeans in its inoperative position when the coin slot is open to admitdeposited coins to the operating mechanism of the machine. 7 he machineas shown in the drawings, co1nprises a stand 5 of ornamental design inwhich the operating mechanism is enclosed, and a tank 6 preferablyburied in the ground, which represents the reservoir or source of supplyfrom which the gasolene or other liquid to be dispensed by the machineis drawn by the operation of a pump 7 installed in the base of thestand. 7

1927. Serial No. 203,571.

In the upper portion of the stand is a container 8 having an outlet in asump 9 beneath its bottom, to which is connected a valve controlleddischarge pipe 10 extending outside the stand. The discharge pipemay'have a coupling for the attachment of a hose through which theliquid is conducted to the gasolene tank of an adjacently parkedautomobile, which for obvious reasons has not been sh own in thedrawings.

Liquid drawn from the supply tank by the pump '7 is conducted to thecontainer through a pipe 12 having its outlet in the lower portlonthereof, and liquid in excess of the predetermined quantity orquantities to be dispensed in the operation of the machine, is re turnedto the tank through overflow pipes 13 connected with a return pipe 14.The pump s connected with an electric motor 15 which is set in motion bya coin deposited in the machine. The mechanism provided for this purposeincludes in the construction disclosed in the parent applicationherebefore referred to. a circuit-closing appliance actuated by thedeposited coin, and a float in the container by which the coin isreleased after the liquid in the container has risen to a predeterminedlevel.

The mechanism has not been shown in detail in the drawings nor will itbe further de scribed inasnnilch as it forms no part of the presentinvention.

The coins are deposited. in the machine through a slot 16 in the upperportion of the stand, which connects with a downwardly ranging chute 17,itbeing understood that the coins passing through this chute actuate thebefore-mentioned circuit-controlling appliance.

Forthe purpose of rendering the machine inoperative when the liquid inthe supply tank 6 has beeirexhausted or diminished to a degree that theremaining quantity is insuiiicient to fill the container 8 to therequired level, check or coin excluding means are provided in the formof a weighted door or gate 18 adapted to close the coin slot at theupper end of the chute.

The gate is normally suspended above the coin slot at an end of a lever19 whose opposite arm constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet 20which is supported on a bracket 21 at the outside of the coin chute. Theelectro-magnet is in a circuit controlled by a circuit breaker 22 whichfor convenience may be mounted in a box 23 upon the supply tank 6. Thecircuit breaker normally closes the circuit of the electro-magnet andautomatically breaks the same when the liquid in the tank falls below apredetern'iined low level.

The circuit breaker, to this end, comprises a cylindrical chamber 24supported upon the screw-threaded upper end of a tube 25 which extendsthrough an opening in the top of the tank, into the box 23. The tubeprovides a housing for the stem 26 of a float 27 disposed below thelower end thereof.

The upper end of the stem connects with a flexible diaphragm 28supported in the chamber 24:, in contact with the cylindrical wallthereof. The diaphragm carries a contact piece 29 adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the lower end of an adjustable screw-threadedcontact rod 30 which is supported in a correspondingly screw-threadedplug 31 closing an opening at the top of the chamber.

The wall of the chamber 2t,'the contact piece 29, and the diaphragm 28are all made of current conducting material so that a current conductedto the wall of the chamber will pass to the contact piece 29 and thenceto the contact rod 30 when the contact piece is in engagement therewith.The wall of the chamber and the contact red are provided with bindingscrews 32 and 33 for the connection of conductors of electricity 34- and85 included in the circuit of the electro-magnet shown in Figure 2.

Vfhen the supply tank contains liquid above its low level determined bythe lower end of the guide tube, the float 27 held in engagement withthe tube, causes the diaphragm to flex upwardly and therebycarry the cowtact into engagement-with the end of the rod. The circuit'thus beingclosed in the chamber, energizes the electro-magnet with the result thatthe armature lever is held in the position in which the weighted gate iselevated above the coin slot as shown in Fig ure 5. p

If, however, the liquid in the tank falls to a level below the end ofthe guide tube, the float will follow the downward movement of theliquid by flexure of the distorted diaphragm, with the result that thecircuit is opened, the electro-magnet is deenergized and the gate ispermitted to drop to the position in which it closes the coin slot asillustrated in Figure It will thus be seen that as long there is aquantity of liquid in the supply tank, suiiicient to fill the containerto the level determined by the overflow, the gate is held in the openposition and coins may be freely inserted in the. chute through the coinslot, to operate the mechanism of the machine as hereinbefore described.

.As soon, however, as the liquid in the tank is insufiicient to fill thecontainer, "the gate drops, and coins are excluded from the mechanismuntil the supply tank has been refilled.

To prevent fraudulentoperation of the machine through the depositing ofspurious coins, washers or other articles, the chute has immediatelybelow the coin slot 16, an opening 36 into which projects a prong 3?,the upper end of which is beveled in a plane with the inclined wall 38in which the opening is formed. Coins deposited through the slot 16,pass across the opening before dropping into the coin chute proper, butwashers or other perforated slugs will be caught by the prong and heldin suspension on the angularly bent lower portion 39 thereof.

Having thus described the novel improvements included in the vendingmachine, it is to be understood that variations in the construction andarrangement of the parts thereof may be resorted to within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A vending machine comprising a reservoir, mechanismfor dispensing liquid. from the reservoir by the insertion of a coin inthe machine, a device to obstruct the passage of coins to the mechanism,an electric appliance to actuate the device, a circuit for theappliance, and a circuit breaker in the circuit, including a diaphragm,contacts to be brought in enga ement by movement of the dia phragm, anda float controlling the movement of the diaphragm by movement of liquidin the reservoir.

2. A vending machine con'lprising a reservoir, mechanism for dispeningliquid from the reservoir by the insertion of a coin in the machine, adevice to obstruct the passage of coins to the mechanism, an electricappliance to actuate the device, a circuit for the appliance, and acircuit breaker in the circuit, including a diaphragm, contacts to bebrought in engagement by movement of the diaphragm, and a floatcontrolling the movement of the diaphragm by movement of liquid in thereservoir, and a stop restricting the movement of the float.

3; A vending machine comprising a reservoir, mechanism for dispensingliquid from the reservoir by the insertion of a coin in the machine, adevice to obstruct the passage of coins to the mechanism, an electricappliance to actuate the device, a circuit for the appliance, and acircuit breaker in the circuit including a tube extending in the.reservoir. a stem movable in the tube, a diaphragm controlling themovement of the stem, contacts disposed to be brought in engagement bvmovement of the diaphragm, and a float on the stem below the tube. 2

t. A vending machine comprising a reservoir, mechanism for dispensingliquid from on liquid in the reservoir and in operative the reservoir bythe insertion of a coin in the relation to the circuit breaker to breakthe machine, a device to obstruct the passage of circuit when the liquidfalls to a predeter- 1 coins to the mechanism, an electric appliancemined level.

in insulated relation to liquid in the reservoir, In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my siga circuit breaker in the circuit, and a float nature.

outside the circuit adapted to be supported LEWIS P. STARKEY.

